Related Records:
Records of the Veterans Administration, RG 15.
Records of the Bureau of Accounts (Treasury), RG 39.
Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and
Library, RG 45.
Records of the Bureau of the Public Debt, RG 53.
General Records of the Department of State, RG 59.
Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917, RG 94.
Records of U.S. Army Commands, 1784-1821, RG 98.
Records of the Office of the Secretary of War, RG 107.
Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the
Treasury, RG 217.
Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the
Constitutional Convention, RG 360.

COLLECTION HISTORY

Most records in War Department custody were destroyed by fire,
November 8, 1800. Many of the remaining Revolutionary War records
were lost during the War of 1812. As a result there were, until
1873, few records for the period before 1789 in War Department
custody. In 1873 Secretary of War William Belknap purchased for
the Federal Government the papers of Timothy Pickering, who
between 1777 and 1785 had been a member of the Board of War,
Adjutant General of the Continental Army, and Quartermaster
General; the papers of Samuel Hodgdon, Commissary General of
Military Stores for several years during the war; miscellaneous
contemporary papers; and some minor groups of records and single
record items. In 1888 these records were transferred to the
Department of State. By acts of July 27, 1892 (27 Stat. 275) and
August 18, 1894 (28 Stat. 403), Congress authorized the transfer
to the War Department of all military records for the
Revolutionary War period then in the custody of other Executive
branch departments. These military records were transferred
between 1894 and 1913 from the Departments of State, the
Interior, and the Treasury. In 1914 and 1915, under authority of
an act of March 2, 1913 (37 Stat. 723), the War Department made
photographic copies of Revolutionary War records in the custody
of public and private institutions in VA, NC, and MA. The entire
collection was transferred to the National Archives in 1938.
Although its contents span the period 1629-1915, the bulk of the
information deals with the period 1775-83.

93.2 GENERAL RECORDS
1709-1915 (bulk 1775-83)
187 lin. ft.

93.2.1 Federal records

Textual Records: Selected volumes of the "Numbered Record Books"
series (1775-98), including letters sent, mainly by Brig. Gen.
Edward Hand, 1778; an orderly book, October 9-18, 1776; records
of Capt. Thomas Mighill, 1775-77; and miscellaneous records
relating to soldiers and activities in New York State, 1781-82.
Miscellaneous numbered records ("Manuscript File"), 1775-84, with
indexes. Miscellaneous unnumbered records, ca. 1709-1913,
consisting mainly of returns, registers of muster rolls, account
books, lists of officers and enlisted men, and reference aids
compiled by employees of the War Department after the Revolution
for use in providing reference service on the original records.
Unidentified indexes, n.d. Lists and other reference materials
relating to the Revolutionary War records, n.d. "Printed Books
Relating to the Revolutionary War," n.d. Card list of general
information, n.d.

Microfilm Publications: M847, M853, M859, M926, T42.

Related Records: Additional volumes of the "Numbered Record
Books" series, some with indexes, UNDER 93.3, 93.4.1, 93.5.1, and
93.6.

93.2.2 State records

Textual Records: Photographic copies, 1914-15, of records (ca.
1775-83) in the custody of VA, NC, and MA, with indexes,
consisting of minutes of boards, including boards of war; reports
and letters sent and received by state boards of war, governors,
and military officers; court records; prize vessel accounts;
rolls and returns; and receipts for money and stores. Certified
copies, 1851, 1853, of South Carolina legislative enactments
(1778-1836).

Textual Records: Selected volumes of the "Numbered Record Books"
series (1775-98), including letters sent by Brig. Gen. Edward
Hand, Adjutant General of the Continental Army, 1781-83; letters
sent by Gerrit H. Van Wagenen, Deputy Commissary of Prisoners,
1779-81; orderly books, 1775-83; a British orderly book, 1779;
oaths of allegiance and fidelity and oaths of office, 1778;
commissions and resignations, 1775-80; and rosters of state and
Continental troops, 1775-83. Card indexes to orderly books,
oaths, and commissions, 1775-83. Records relating to military
service, 1775-83, with indexes. Compiled military service
records, 1894-ca. 1912 (2,240 ft.), with indexes. Copies, ca.
1905, of rolls of officers of the Continental Army (1775-79).
Registers of army returns, 1775-83; and of muster rolls and
payrolls, 1777-83. Returns of a British brigade of foot guards,
1776-79; and of the 6th Massachusetts Battalion, 1779-80. British
orderly books, 1777.

93.4.1 Selected volumes of the "Numbered Record Books" series
(1775-98)

Textual Records: Records of Quartermaster General Timothy
Pickering, consisting of letters sent, 1780-87; a register of
letters received, 1781; and miscellaneous accounts and receipts,
1781-83. Records of Commissary General of Military Stores and
Assistant Quartermaster Samuel Hodgdon, consisting of letters
sent, 1778-84; a ledger, 1777-98; receipts, 1778-89; and records
of disbursements, 1780-81. Records of Capt. Charles Russell,
Assistant Deputy Quartermaster, VA, 1781-82. Account book of
Thomas Grant, Assistant Quartermaster, PA, 1780-83. Records of
the Quartermaster General's Department, including ledgers, 1776-
79; estimated requirements for quartermaster stores, 1780-93; and
records of receipts and disbursements, 1780-84. Records of the
Commissary General of Military Stores Department, including
ordnance ledgers, 1780-85; and records of receipts and
disbursements, 1780-81. Ledger of accounts of the United States
with various states for military stores, 1780-83. Records of
military stores issued and received, 1777-84. Quartermaster
records of miscellaneous units, 1779-83. Records of accounts,
Assistant Commissaries of Issues, 1776-83, 1786. Ration record,
Eastern Department, 1776-77.

Related Records: Additional volumes of the "Numbered Record
Books" series, some with indexes, UNDER 93.2.1, 93.3, 93.5.1, and
93.6.

93.4.2 Other records

Textual Records: Registers and wrappers to letters received,
1776-1814. Miscellaneous records of the Quartermaster General's
Department, 1775-83. Quartermaster returns, 8th and 9th
Massachusetts Regiments, 1779-82. Ledger of military stores for
the main army in the field, 1780-83. Ledger of Quartermaster
General accounts, 1780-83. Records of disbursements by the
Commissary General of Military Stores, 1780-81. Orders for
deliveries by the Superintendent of Military Stores, 1799-1801.
Return of Quartermaster property, 1782.

93.5 RECORDS RELATING TO MILITARY PAY AND THE SETTLEMENT OF
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
1775-1803
1 lin. ft.

93.5.1 Selected volumes of the "Numbered Record Books" series
(1775-98)

Textual Records: Records of Paymasters General and Commissioners
of Army Accounts John Pierce and Joseph Howell, consisting of
letters sent, 1784-89; and receipt books, 1783-85, 1787-90.
Ledgers and records of accounts, 1775-92, including records of
accounts of Quartermaster General Timothy Pickering, 1781-90; and
of the Pay Office, Paymaster General's Department, 1783-84.
Records of pay and service, VA, NY, and GA, 1781-87. Monthly
registers of quartermaster accounts settled, 1780-84. Receipt
books of Assistant Commissioners of Army Accounts John White,
Annapolis, MD, and George Reid, Charleston, SC, 1785-86.

Related Records: Additional volumes of the "Numbered Record
Books" series, some with indexes, UNDER 93.2.1, 93.3, 93.4.1, and
93.6.

93.5.2 Other records

Textual Records: Ledgers of accounts, 4th New York Regiment,
1775-77; and 1st Regiment, British Brigade of Foot Guards, 1777-
79. Return of unreceipted money, 1798-1803. Lists of certificates
issued for depreciation of pay for Revolutionary War service, NH
and PA, n.d. Records relating to pensions and claims for pay,
n.d.

Related Records: Additional volumes of the "Numbered Record
Books" series, some with indexes, UNDER 93.2.1, 93.3, 93.4.1, and
93.5.1.

Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.